Ladle-turning mechanism



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,004

. .1. s. TOWNSEND Y LADLE TURNING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 1923 sSheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,004

J. S. TOWNSEND LADLE TURNI N6 M5 CHANI SM Filed Jan. 27, 1923' sSheets-Sheet 2 70 6 I JQ-z 15 .Tmsewd Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,004

J. S. TOWNSEND LADLE TURNI NG MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 27,1925 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITED STATES OlQE.

JOHN S. TOWNSEND, 0F HARVEY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VVHIIING CORPORATION,OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LADLE-TURNING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 2'7, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harvey, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ladle-TurningMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for turning ladles used infoundries, furnaces and the like containing more or less large bodies ofmolten metal, sometimes thirty tons or more, wherein because of thedanger of spilling molten metal, very positive powerful machinery isrequired. In general terms, the invention. is an improvement upon thedevices of prior Patents 1,323,137 to Whiting and Townsend and 1,357,599to Townsend.

The objects of the invention are to improve the mechanisms and method ofconstructing and assembling the devices of said prior-patents, therebyreducing the original cost and increasing the efiicieney and safety ofthe device and to provide an automatic oiling system for the mechanismwhich reduces the sources of oil supply from seven or eight to two, thusmaterially increasing the satisfactory operation of the device.

The invention consists in mechanism capable of attaining the foregoingobjects; which can be easily and comparatively cheaply made; which issatisfactory in operation and is not readily liable to get out of order.More particularly, the invention consists in numerous features anddetails of construction which will be hereafter more fully set forth inthe specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals designate the sameparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a small side elevation of a complete ladle equipped with themechanism of this invention.

Figure 2 is a larger side elevation and Figure 3 a corresponding endelevation, certain parts being broken away, of mechanism illustratingthis invention in its preferred form.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figures 2 and 3, taken on theline 4---fi of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail yiew on the line 5 5 of Figure4.

Serial No. 615,211.

Figure 6 is a transverse end view, largely in section, taken on the line66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical, sectional detail view on the line 7-7 of Figure5.

Figure 8 is a true plan view of the top of the case taken somewhat abovethe line ii4: of Figure 5.

The ladle 12 adapted to carry a large quantity of molten metal appearingin Figure 1 has conveniently protruding from its sides trunnions 14 and16 journaled in a conventional form of bail 18 adapted to be suspendedin conventional manner from the traveling crane or other carrier devicemovable about a foundry. As in said prior patents, the trunnion 16. hasrigidly attached to it by any suitable means as, for instance, the key20, a large gear wheel 22, driven by a worm 2 1, operated in anyconvenient manner, as, for instance, by the manual manipulation of anassociated hand wheel 26, the gearing mechanism being enclosed withinsome sort of a case held by the bail 18 in such a manner that the bailand case can expand vertically as shown in the drawings with referenceto each other but the case and included worm mechanism cannot rotate onthe trunnion 16.

In the improved construction of this invention, the case is greatlyimproved by including in it two parallel side frames 28 and 80 ofgenerally triangular construction, usually, but not necessarily,castings, located on opposite sides of gear wheel 22 terminating attheir downwardly pointed ends in bearings 32, journaling the trunnion16. These parallel frames 28 and 30 support a detachable case at fittingover and enclosing the worm .2 1, its shaft 36 and spiral gear 38 drivenby it. The case 3% is secured to suitably disposed horizontal flanges onthe frame members 28 and 30 by any suitable means as, for instance, thebolts 40. Case 34- is made longer than the top edges of the members 28and 30 and carries beyond them the depending shaft receptacle 4-2 inwhich is journaled shaft 44.- carrying inside of shaft receptacle 42 theworm 16 meshing with spiral gear 88 and carrying outside of the case thehand wheel 26, heretofore referred to, or any other con venientmechanism not entering into this invention for rotating the gearingdescribed and, consequently, through the wheel 22 the ladle. The shaftreceptacle 12 is rendered accessible through an end perforation 4-8closed by a plate 50, detachably secured in position by any suitablemeans as, for instance, the screws or bolts 52.

Obviously, the members 30, 32 and 3% only enclose a segment of the gearwheel 22. The portion of the wheel not covered by the parts named ispreferably but not necessarily enclosed in any coi'iventional form ofcase member 53, usually but not necessarily of sheet iron, suitablyattached to flanges on the members 28 and 30 by any suitable means as,for instance, the screws 5 1- entering holes 56 provided for them and bybolts 58 and (S0 entering the case memher 3 1- and a flange on member 12as shown.

The mechanism thus far described has the distinct advantage that sideframes 2S30 support case member from the trunnion 10 on two separated,spaced bearings 32, with the result that worm 24; is held in accuratealignment with worm gear 22, thus increasing the elliciency of the wormgearing devices which are, as is well understood in the art, subject togreat deterioration in elliciency, if the parts are not maintained inproper relationship. Again, by constructing the three parts 28, 30 and las de scribed, much more ready repair and replacement can be carried onshould occasion require them'than with the structures of said priorpatents.

In order to provide proper automatic lubrication of the mechanismdescribec, case 34 is provided with two upwardly e tending rectangularoil boxes 62 and G l, the former being provided on the side nearest thebail 18 with a U-shaped notch 66 entered by a horizontally projectingarm 68 on a Ll-shaped block 70 embracing the bail 18 and detachablysecured in place by any suitable means as, for instance, the bolts 72provided for the purpose. This block 70 is preferably cored out, asshown at 74-, Figures l and 6, so as to make the walls of substantiallyuniform thickness in all direc tions, thereby doing away with the dangerof breakage adjacent to the corners of the bail were it made solid at74-. The block 70 is cut away at the top and bottom of the portion 68 incurved lines 76 conforming to the curvature of that portion of the case3 1 which directly encloses the worm 2st. In practice, the member 70 isshipped separately from the ball 18 and the curves 76 are provided sothat the constructor at the final works where the device is to be usedcan apply members 6S70 either side up without getting into trouble.

Lug 6S fits closely but not tight between the walls of the recess (36and has sufficient clearance with reference to the outside of case cover34 so that it cannot even touch cover 3st should heat distort bail 18 orladle howl 12; in other words, hail 13 or the ladle 12 can expand freelywithout pulling or pushing on the case 34land, consequently, upon thegearing contained in the case to thus destroy the successful operationof the worm gear mechanism.

The oil chambers 02 and (3 2-, heretofore referred to, are respectivelyclosed by covers 80 and 82, secured in place by any suitable meansthatshown in the drawings comprising .in each case a pivotal bearing Set atone corn r and set screw 86 on co-operating open ended slot SS at theother corner, the slot being formed on the arc of a circle orawn fromthe adjacent pivot Set so that the respective covers can be rotated in ahorizontal plane sulliciently so that the respective oil boxes can befilled with waste 90 loaded "with heavy oil,

In the bottom of oil b0 (52 are live oil holes: 91-9293 9st and 95,while in the bottom of oil be); (3st are four oil holes 96 9? 98 and 99.

Oil hole 91 is, shown, located immediately adjacent. to the inside wallof member 28 and adjacent to a rib 100 thereon down which oil from saidhole 91 travels to an oil receptacle 102 in the adjacent hub ii in whichthe oil passes through a hole 10-Ll to the outer end of trunnion 16.Similarly, oil hole is immediately adjacent to the inner wall of casemember 30 and a rib thereon down which the oil travels to an oil chamber108 from which it goes through hole 110 to the inner end of trunnion 10.Oil hole 92 delivers directly to a central bearing 112 provided forshaft 30 inside of case 34.. Oil hole 93 delivers oil directly to theworm 2%, while oil hole 94: delivers oil to the downwardly inclinedpassage 11% leading to a bearing 116 for the outer end of shaft 30, inend plate 118, attached to the case member 34L by any suitable means as,for instance, the bolts 120.

In similar manner, oil holes 96 and 99 deliver oil to opposite insidefaces of case 3st down which the oil flows to oil cups 120 and 122 inthe shaft retaining device l2 from which the oil passes through theports shown in Figure 7 to the opposite end bearings of shaft 44.

Oil hole 97 delivers directly to the top of spiral gear 38 andconsequently to the worm d6, while oil hole 98 delivers, as shown inFigure 5, directly to a bearing 12st which supports shaft 36,immediately adjacent to spiral gear 38.

In order to prevent all the oil in waste 90 in boxes 62 and (i l runningout of the oil holes as 91, 95, 96 and 99, which are below the other oilholes in the respective boxes oil boxes are preferably divided intoseparate compartments by suitable partitions 12G128-130 and 132.

In the operation of the device, the operator charges the oil chambers 62and 64: with waste 90, loaded with very heavy slow flowing oil andcloses the covers 80 and 82, with the result that the oil flows veryslowly out of the Waste through the respective oil holes to the variousgears and bearings with the practical result that it is only necessaryto pay attention to the lubrication of the device once a month or soinstead of every day as has heretofore been required where amultiplicity of oil cups, grease cups, etc., are independently appliedto each of the separate points requiring lubrication.

By the useof the entire invention, automatically lubricated mechanism isobtained in which the delicate worm gear is rigidly, yet detachably anddemountably secured in proper operative position.

As the drawings are clear, it is hardly necessary to state that the caseis held on the trunnion 16 by thrust bearing 134, and that shaft 4:4: ispositioned by thrust bearing 136.

In actual practice, mechanism constructed in accordance with theforegoing drawings and description, has been successfully operated withvery much greater efliciency and economy than is possible with the priordevices of the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a ladle having a trunnion extending therefromjournaled in a supporting bail; of a worm wheel aflixed to saidtrunnion, mechanism for rotating said worm wheel held against movementcircumferentially of said worm wheel by said bail, means for supportingsaid worm wheel rotating mechanism from said truncated one to each sideof said worm wheel,

said frame members being rotatably journaled on said. trunnion, a housinfor said worm wheel rotating mechanism rigidly connecting said framemembers together, an oil reservoir in said housing, and a rib on eachframe member extending from a point adjacent to said oil reservoir to apoint adjacent to said trunnion and to which oil from said reservoir isdelivered whereby it flows to said trunnion.

2. The combination with a ladle having a trunnion extending therefromjournaled in a supporting hail; of a worm wheel affixed to saidtrunnion, mechanism for rotating said worm Wheel held against movementcircumferentially of said worm wheel by said bail and including a shaft,bearings in which said shaft is journaled and a worm on said shaftmeshing with said worm wheel, a pair of frame members journaled on saidtrunnion, a housing for said worm and said shaft carried by said framemembers, an oil reservoir in said housing, partitions dividing said oilreservoir into separate compartments, one of said compartments havingpassages leading therefrom to said shaft bearings and to said worm, arib on each frame member extending from a point adjacent to said oilreservoir to an oil pocket adjacent to said trunnion, the other compartments having passages leading to said ribs, respectively, wherebyoil is delivered to the latter so as to adhere thereto by capillaryattraction and flow to said oil pockets, said frame members havingpassages leading from said oil pockets to said trunnion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN S. TOlVNSEND.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,550,004, grantedAugust 18, 1925, upon the application of John S. Townsend, of Harvey,Illinois, for an improvement in Ladle-Turning Mechanism, an errorappears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows:Page 3, lines 40 and 41, claim 1, strike out the Word truncated andinsert instead trimxnimi including a pair 0 frame members located; andthat the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOflice.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of October, A. D. 1925.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

